Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Asia
South Asia: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 57.47 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Asia, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Asia is 57.47 million number, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 51.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Asia peaked at 57.47 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 2.78 million number, in 1970.
That places South Asia 13th out of 45 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Asia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.78 million number | — |
| 1971 | 2.85 million number | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 2.98 million number | +4.6% |
| 1973 | 3.10 million number | +4.0% |
| 1974 | 3.31 million number | +7.1% |
| 1975 | 3.52 million number | +6.3% |
| 1976 | 3.77 million number | +6.9% |
| 1977 | 4.07 million number | +8.1% |
| 1978 | 4.30 million number | +5.6% |
| 1979 | 4.60 million number | +6.9% |
| 1980 | 4.91 million number | +6.8% |
| 1981 | 5.25 million number | +6.9% |
| 1982 | 5.41 million number | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 5.90 million number | +9.0% |
| 1984 | 6.17 million number | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 6.51 million number | +5.6% |
| 1986 | 7.03 million number | +7.9% |
| 1987 | 7.40 million number | +5.3% |
| 1988 | 7.88 million number | +6.5% |
| 1989 | 7.89 million number | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 7.79 million number | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 7.93 million number | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 7.86 million number | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 7.88 million number | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 8.33 million number | +5.7% |
| 1995 | 8.43 million number | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 8.39 million number | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 8.56 million number | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 12.04 million number | +40.6% |
| 1999 | 14.03 million number | +16.6% |
| 2000 | 16.16 million number | +15.1% |
| 2001 | 17.82 million number | +10.3% |
| 2002 | 18.75 million number | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 20.29 million number | +8.2% |
| 2004 | 22.98 million number | +13.3% |
| 2005 | 25.96 million number | +13.0% |
| 2006 | 29.86 million number | +15.0% |
| 2007 | 32.95 million number | +10.3% |
| 2008 | 35.98 million number | +9.2% |
| 2009 | 37.97 million number | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 41.22 million number | +8.6% |
| 2011 | 44.62 million number | +8.2% |
| 2012 | 46.54 million number | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 49.15 million number | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 50.59 million number | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 52.46 million number | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 54.38 million number | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 57.08 million number | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 56.94 million number | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 57.47 million number | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.53 million number | 2.78 million number | 4.60 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.44 million number | 4.91 million number | 7.89 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.12 million number | 7.79 million number | 14.03 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.87 million number | 16.16 million number | 37.97 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.04 million number | 41.22 million number | 57.47 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More education data for South Asia
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Asia?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Asia was 57.47 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 57.47 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.78 million number in 1970.
- How does South Asia rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- South Asia ranks 13th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of students enrolled in public and private pre-primary education institutions (ISCED 0.2) regardless of age. Within ISCED 0, early childhood educational development programmes are targeted at children aged 0 to 2 years; and pre-primary education programmes are targeted at children aged 3 years until the age to start ISCED 1.